U.S. patent number 10,322,887 [Application Number 15/692,605] was granted by the patent office on 2019-06-18 for method for opening a transport pocket suspended on a carriage as well as a pocket opening device for performing the method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FERAG AG. The grantee listed for this patent is FERAG AG. Invention is credited to Robert Fenile.
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United States Patent |
10,322,887 |
Fenile |
June 18, 2019 |
Method for opening a transport pocket suspended on a carriage as
well as a pocket opening device for performing the method
Abstract
In a method for opening a transport pocket (15), which is moved
in a conveying direction (BR) along a running rail (11) extending
in the conveying direction (BR) for the conveying of goods
suspended on a carriage (12), simple and precise loading and/or
unloading of the transport pocket (15) is enabled by the fact that
the carriage (12) with the transport pocket (15) suspended thereon
is stopped in its forward movement at a predetermined point of the
running rail (11) in order to open the transport pocket (15), and
that the transport pocket (15) of the carriage (12) is opened for
loading and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be transported.
Inventors: |
Fenile; Robert (Wetzikon,
CH) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FERAG AG |
Hinwil |
N/A |
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
FERAG AG (Hinwil,
CH)
|
Family
ID: |
59811141 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/692,605 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180072511 A1 |
Mar 15, 2018 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
47/78 (20130101); B65G 47/36 (20130101); B65G
9/004 (20130101); B65G 19/025 (20130101); B65G
47/61 (20130101); B65H 2301/432 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
47/36 (20060101); B65G 9/00 (20060101); B65G
47/78 (20060101); B65G 47/61 (20060101); B65G
19/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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00089/15 |
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12 33 777 |
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2 221 318 |
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38 40 521 |
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40 42 375 |
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297 09 547 |
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196 14 905 |
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1 420 105 |
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Other References
Co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 15/542,880, Fenile, R. et al., "Method
for Filling the Pockets of a Transport Device in the Form of a
Suspension Conveyor and Device for Carrying Out Said Method," filed
Jul. 11, 2017. cited by applicant .
Co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 15/542,887, Fenile, R. et al., "Method
for Emptying the Pockets of a Transport Device in the Form of a
Suspension Conveyor, and Device for Carrying Out Said Method,"
filed Jul. 11, 2017. cited by applicant .
Co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 15/542,893, Fenile, R., "Transport
Device, in Particular in the Form of a Suspension Conveyor," filed
Jul. 11, 2017. cited by applicant .
European Patent Office, Communication, EPO Form 1507N, dated Jan.
23, 2018 (1 page). cited by applicant .
European Patent Office, Supplementary European Search Report, EPO
Form 1503 03.82, dated Jan. 15, 2018 (1 page). cited by applicant
.
European Patent Office, Annex to the European Search Report on
European Patent Application No. EP 17 18 9731, EPO Form P0461,
dated Jan. 15, 2018 (2 pages). cited by applicant .
European Patent Office, EPO Form PO4A44, dated Jan. 15, 2018 (1
page). cited by applicant .
European Patent Office, European Search Opinion, EPO Form 1703
01.91TRI, dated Jan. 15, 2018 (4 pages). cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Crawford; Gene O
Assistant Examiner: Rushin; Lester Ill
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pauley Erickson & Kottis
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for opening a transport pocket (15), which is moved in
a conveying direction (BR) along a running rail (11) extending in
the conveying direction (BR) for the conveying of goods suspended
on a carriage (12) comprising the steps of: stopping forward
movement of the carriage (12) with the transport pocket (15)
suspended thereon at a predetermined point of the running rail
(11); and opening the transport pocket (15) for loading and/or
unloading of conveyed goods to be transported, wherein the
transport pocket (15) of the carriage (12) is opened for the
loading and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be transported only
when the carriage (12) is already in a rest position.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transport pocket
(15) of the carriage (12) comprises a swiveling frame (15b) at the
upper end, said swiveling frame being swiveled for the opening or
closing of the transport pocket (15).
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein arrival of the carriage
(12) in a rest position is detected with a carriage detector (18),
and that the carriage detector (18) actuates an opening mechanism
(17) when it detects the carriage (12) in the rest position.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transport pocket
(15) comprises a material web fixed to the swiveling frame (15b)
with both of two ends thereby forming a carrying loop (15a) hanging
downwards, wherein the two ends of the carrying loop (15a) are
arranged one behind another in the conveying direction, and the
swiveling frame (15b) on the carriage (12) can be swiveled about a
first swiveling axis (15c) orientated transverse to the conveying
direction between a first position, in which the transport pocket
(15) is closed, and a second position, in which the transport
pocket (15) is open, and that the swiveling frame (15b) on the
carriage (12) is swiveled by an opening mechanism (17) from the
first position into the second position and held in the second
position for loading and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be
transported.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the opening mechanism
(17) comprises a movable element (17a) for opening the transport
pocket (15).
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the loading and
unloading of the conveyed goods to be transported takes place
transverse to the conveying direction through lateral openings of
the transport pocket (15).
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein, after the loading
and/or unloading, the carriage (12) with the transport pocket (15)
suspended thereon is released at the predetermined point of the
running rail (11), and that the swiveling frame (15b) swivels after
the release about the first swiveling axis (15c) from the second
position back into the first position.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the swiveling-back of
the swiveling frame (15b) takes place automatically by gravity.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the transport pocket
(15) suspended on the carriage (12), after release, moves with its
swiveling frame (15b) located in the second position past the
opening mechanism (17), and that the swiveling frame (15b) swivels
back from the second position into the first position only after
passing the opening mechanism (17).
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein, after the release, a
movement impulse in the conveying direction is imparted to the
carriage (12) with the transport pocket (15) suspended thereon.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the movement impulse
is imparted by a stationary, swivelable conveying lever (16a),
which briefly engages with the carriage (12).
12. A pocket opening device (10) for performing the method
according to claim 1, comprising a first device (16d, 18) for
stopping a carriage (12), said first device being arranged in a
region of the running rail (11) and at least one opening mechanism
(17) for opening a transport pocket (15) suspended on a stopped
carriage (12), wherein the opening mechanism comprises a movable
element for opening the transport pocket, said opening mechanism
being arranged in the region of the running rail (11).
13. The pocket opening device according to claim 12, wherein the
first device (16d, 18) and the opening mechanism (17) are connected
to one another by control technology.
14. The pocket opening device according to claim 12, wherein the
first device (16d, 18) and the opening mechanism (17) are arranged
at a side of the running rail (11).
15. The pocket opening device according to claim 14, wherein the
first device (16d, 18) and the opening mechanism (17) are arranged
on opposite sides of the running rail (11).
16. The pocket opening device according to claim 14, wherein a pair
of opening mechanisms (17) of similar type is arranged on opposite
sides of the running rail (11) in a mirror-symmetrical manner.
17. The pocket opening device according to claim 12, wherein the
first device (16d, 18) comprises a mobile stopping element (16d),
which in a first position stops an approaching carriage (12) at the
predetermined point of the running rail (11) and in a second
position releases a carriage (12) stopped there.
18. The pocket opening device according to claim 17, wherein the
mobile stopping element (16d) is mounted in a swiveling manner
about a first swiveling axis (16b) orientated transverse to the
conveying direction and can be swiveled about the first swiveling
axis (16b) between the first position and the second position.
19. The pocket opening device according to claim 18, wherein a
conveying lever (16a) capable of being swiveled together with the
stopping element about the first swiveling axis (16b) is assigned
to the mobile stopping element (16d), which conveying lever, upon
release of a stopped carriage (12) by the stopping element,
simultaneously imparts to the carriage (12) a movement impulse in
the conveying direction.
20. The pocket opening device according to claim 12, further
comprising a carriage detector (18) arranged inside the first
device (16d, 18) at the predetermined point of the running rail
(11), said carriage detector detecting a stopped carriage (12), and
wherein the carriage detector (18) is connected to the opening
mechanism (17) by control technology.
21. The pocket opening device according to claim 12, wherein the
transport pocket (15) comprises a material web fastened to a
swiveling frame (15b) at both of two ends thereby forming a
carrying loop (15a) hanging downwards and forming a front wall and
a rear wall, wherein the two ends of the carrying loop (15a) are
arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction, the
swiveling frame (15b) on the carriage (12) can be swiveled about a
second swiveling axis (15c) orientated transverse to the conveying
direction between a first position, in which the transport pocket
(15) is closed, and a second position, in which the transport
pocket (15) is open, and that the opening mechanism (17) comprises
a swiveling lever (17a) which can be swiveled about a third
swiveling axis (17b) orientated transverse to the conveying
direction, which swiveling lever is arranged at the edge of the
movement path of the swiveling frame (15b) of a conveyed transport
pocket (15) and is provided at its free end with a catch (17c),
which can be engaged with the swiveling frame (15b) in order to
swivel the swiveling frame (15b) on the carriage (12) from the
first into the second position and hold the latter in the second
position for the loading and/or unloading of the conveyed goods to
be transported.
22. The pocket opening device according to claim 21, wherein the
swiveling lever can be swiveled between a rest position and an
opening position, wherein the catch (17c) on the swiveling lever
(17a) of the opening mechanism in the rest position is located in
front of the swiveling frame (15b) of a stopped transport pocket
(15), and in the opening position occupies a position between the
front wall and rear wall of the transport pocket (15).
23. A pocket opening device (10) for performing the method
according to claim 1, comprising a first device (16d, 18) for
stopping a carriage (12), wherein the first device (16d, 18)
comprises a mobile stopping element (16d), which in a first
position stops an approaching carriage (12) at the predetermined
point of the running rail (11) and in a second position releases a
carriage (12) stopped there, said first device being arranged in a
region of the running rail (11) and at least one opening mechanism
(17) for opening a transport pocket (15) suspended on a stopped
carriage (12), said opening mechanism being arranged in the region
of the running rail (11), and wherein the mobile stopping element
(16d) is mounted in a swiveling manner about a first swiveling axis
(16b) orientated transverse to the conveying direction and can be
swiveled about the first swiveling axis (16b) between the first
position and the second position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Swiss Patent Application 01171/16, filed 9 Sep. 2016, the priority
document corresponding to this invention, to which a foreign
priority benefit is claimed under Title 35, United States Code,
Section 119, and their entire teachings are incorporated, by
reference, into this specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the area of conveying technology.
It relates to a method for opening a transport pocket suspended on
a carriage. It also relates to a pocket opening device for
performing the method.
Discussion of Related Art
A multiplicity of transport or conveying systems based on the use
of suspended transport pockets to be opened for loading and
unloading the conveyed goods are known from the prior art.
Publication EP 2 130 968 B1 relates to a transport pocket and a
conveyor system for a transport pocket. The transport pocket
comprises an at least dimensionally stable carrying wall, which in
its lower region is provided with at least one coupling and which
in its upper region is provided with means for releasing the
coupling. The bottom-side wall is constituted flexible in its lower
region and comprises counter-coupling means which can be engaged
with the coupling, so that the transport pocket can be closed at
the bottom. When the coupling is opened, the transport pocket opens
downwards and discharges the transported goods.
The associated conveyer system has a conveying rail with drivers
movable in the conveying direction for receiving in each case a
carrying hook, a closing station for coupling the counter-coupling
means of the flexible bottom-side wall with the at least one
coupling of the carrying wall, a loading station with means for
raising the mounting bracket in order to distance the bottom-side
wall from the carrying wall against the conveying direction and an
unloading station with means for releasing the means for opening
the coupling.
Publication DE 10 2012 108 757 A1 relates to a carrying pocket for
an overhead conveyor system for the suspended transport of objects
and a closing mechanism for closing a carrying pocket for an
overhead conveyor system. It discloses a carrying pocket for the
overhead conveyor system for the suspended transport of objects,
comprising a holding frame, a pocket bag, which hangs on the
holding frame and in which objects to be transported can be
accommodated, and a suspension element, which is connected to the
holding frame and by means of which the carrying pocket can be
suspended on an overhead conveyor system in order to be transported
in a suspended manner by the overhead conveyor system, wherein the
pocket bag comprises a first and a second bag section, e.g.
materially separate from one another, which each comprise a bag end
section connected to the holding frame and a second bag end section
facing away from the holding frame, wherein the second bag end
sections are connected to one another by a linkage mechanism, which
can be brought into an unloading position (by swiveling about a
swiveling axis), in which the second bag end sections are arranged
at a distance from one another, so that the pocket bag is provided
with an outlet opening formed between the two bag end sections for
the discharging of objects, e.g. for discharging vertically
downwards, and which can be brought into a loading position (by
swiveling about a swiveling axis), in which the second bag end
sections are arranged adjacent to one another, so that the outlet
opening is closed and the pocket bag can receive objects, i.e. can
hold the latter therein/in its interior.
Publication DE 10 2008 061 685 A1 relates to a loading station for
transport pockets transported in an overhead conveyor system. The
loading station comprises an upper feed rail for the transport
pockets, a vertical conveyor adjoining the feed rail for feeding
the transport pockets into a lower loading position, a device for
opening the transport pockets in the loading position and a lower
discharge rail adjoining the vertical conveyor for discharging the
transport pockets out of the loading station. The pocket is opened
here by a sliding-link guide during the movement into the loading
position.
Publication DE 10 2004 018 569 A1 relates to a collecting device
for the collection of objects for the purpose of sorting, in
particular items of clothing, and a conveying system for the
transport of the collecting device. The collecting device is
characterized by a collecting pocket, which essentially comprises a
rack provided with a driver integrated into the conveying system
and a pocket bag suspended on the rack, wherein the driver and the
rack can be swiveled relative to one another about an axis lying
normal to the conveying direction, and wherein the pocket bag is
opened when the rack is in a horizontal arrangement and the pocket
bag is folded together and essentially closed when the rack is in a
vertical arrangement.
Publication DE 10 2013 205 172 A1 discloses a transport pocket for
the suspended transport of goods. The transport pocket has a stiff
carrying wall, which, in the transport position, includes an upper
section connected to a carrying element for the suspended carrying
of the transport pocket. A flexible goods-retaining wall forms,
together with the carrying wall, a carrying pocket closed at the
bottom and at the opposite sides at least in the transport position
of the transport pocket. The carrying wall is connected to the
retaining wall, in the transport portion, between an upper
wall-connecting portion and a lower wall-connecting portion, in
such a way that a length of the web-like retaining wall between the
two wall-connecting portions is adapted variably to the transport
of different goods. The embodiment of the transport pocket is such
that this length adaptation of the retaining wall takes place by a
relative displacement of the retaining wall with respect to the
carrying wall at least in the region of one of the two connecting
portions.
Publication DE 10 2010 033 905 A1 relates to a conveying system
with carrying pockets for conveyed goods. The conveying system
comprises a fixed conveyor rail with drivers moved in the conveying
direction for receiving in each case a suspension point of the
carrying pockets, the carrying pocket with a pocket bag for
receiving the conveyed goods, wherein the pocket bag comprises wide
and narrow side walls with dimensions a, b arranged in a
rectangular shape, the pocket bag with a carrying frame, which
comprises a tension rod with the suspension point constituted at
the upper end, and which encompasses a loading window for the
pocket bag, the carrying frame with a pressure piece extending
parallel to the wide side walls, a coupling located between the
driver and the carrying frame for adjusting a stable rotary
position of the carrying pocket relative to the driver, in which
position the carrying pocket occupies a position with a location of
the loading window normal to the conveying direction, and for
adjusting a non-stable rotary position of the carrying pocket
relative to the driver, in which the carrying pocket occupies a
position with the loading window parallel to the conveying
direction, wherein the non-stable rotary position can be adjusted
by the pressure piece engaging with a fixed skid against the
resistance of a restoring torque.
Publication DE 10 2014 203 298 A1 relates to an overhead conveyor
system for transporting conveyed goods in hanging pockets. The
overhead conveyor system comprises a plurality of hanging pockets,
in each case with a first pocket side wall and a second pocket side
wall, which are connected to each other in a folding connection
region in such a way that they can be unfolded and folded together
for the opening and closing of a receiving region for conveyed
goods, and with a suspension means for suspending the hanging
pocket on the overhead conveyor system, wherein the first pocket
side wall is connected to the suspension means in a swiveling
manner about a pocket swiveling axis running at least approximately
horizontally in a transport position of the hanging pocket, and the
second pocket side wall is connected to the suspension means or can
be acted upon by the latter in such a way that the pocket side
walls can be folded open and folded together by swiveling the first
pocket side wall about the pocket swiveling axis, wherein the
overhead conveyor system also comprises a guide rail arrangement
for the guided movement of the hanging pockets in their transport
position and a loading station for the hanging pockets, with a
loading platform which is positioned beneath the guide rail
arrangement. The loading platform is adjustable in the vertical
direction relative to the guide rail arrangement, preferably
automatically traversable.
Publication WO 2015/124525 A1 relates to a hanging pocket as a
conveyed goods container for the transport of conveyed goods in an
overhead conveyor system. The hanging pocket comprises a first
pocket side wall and a second pocket side wall, which lying
opposite one another delimit a conveyed goods receiving region
between them and are connected to one another in a folding
connection region in such a way that they can be folded open and
folded together for the opening and closing of the conveyed goods
receiving region, and a suspension means for suspending the hanging
pocket on a guide rail arrangement of an overhead conveyor system,
wherein the first pocket side wall comprises a stiff edge contour
region and is connected to the suspension means capable of a
swiveling movement on the latter about a swiveling axis and wherein
the second pocket side wall is connected to the suspension means or
acted upon by the latter in such a way that, by swiveling the first
pocket side wall about the swiveling axis, the first and the second
pocket side wall can be folded open and folded together. The
hanging pocket comprises a base assembly and an exchange element,
wherein the base assembly comprises the suspension means and the
stiff edge contour region, and wherein the exchange element
comprises at least one part of the second pocket side wall,
preferably the entire second pocket side wall, and is provided in
an exchangeable manner on the base assembly.
Publication DE 10 2011 015 138 B4 discloses an overhead conveyor
transport pocket for the automatic unloading of loaded piece goods
with a base body and a separate receiving section adjoining the
latter, wherein the base body comprises an upper side, a lower
side, lateral sides and front sides, wherein the receiving section
comprises a bottom, an upper side, front sides and lateral sides,
wherein the unloading of the transport pocket takes place through
one of the front sides of the base body, which is constituted open,
wherein an opposite-lying front side is preferably also constituted
open, wherein the lower side of the base body couples with the
upper side of the receiving section in order to define a receiving
space beneath the base body, and wherein the lower side of the base
body, in particular in an unloaded state of the transport pocket,
is constituted open, wherein the upper side of the receiving
section is constituted open in the unloaded state of the transport
pocket, wherein at least the lateral sides of the base body, the
lateral sides of the receiving section and the bottom of the
receiving section are constituted closed and wherein at least the
lateral sides of the receiving section are constituted flexible in
such a way that the bottom can be raised into an unloading position
of the transport pocket, in which the bottom is raised into the
underside of the base body. The transport pocket comprises in each
case a retention device in the region of the front sides, which
extends at least along a transfer line between the base body and
the receiving section.
Publication DE 10 2012 018 925 A1 discloses a pocket overhead
conveyor system with an overhead conveyor for transporting pockets
along a guide rail downwards in a conveying direction, wherein the
pockets in a transport position hang vertically beneath the guide
rail and wherein the pockets in a loaded position are orientated
essentially horizontal, with a loading station, which comprises a
deflection device, wherein the deflection device comprises an end
located upstream and an end located downstream and is arranged
beneath the guide rail of the overhead conveyor, wherein the
pockets come into contact with the deflection device during the
transport in the conveying direction, in order to rotate the
pockets at least initially during a continued transport in the
conveying direction out of the vertical transport position into the
essentially horizontal loading position, and with a pocket, wherein
the pocket comprises a suspension device for the swivelable
coupling of the pocket with the guide rail of the overhead
conveyor, a rear side which in the vertical transport position
comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the lower
section adjoins the upper section in a longitudinal direction of
the rear side, a top, a front side and a bottom, wherein the rear
side in the transverse direction is constituted respectively wider
than the top, the front side and the bottom, so that the rear side
comprises at least one wing region projecting laterally with
respect to the front side, which wing region strikes against the at
least one swiveling element during the transport of the pocket
through the loading station in order to rotate the pocket and which
in the loading position lies on the deflection device.
All these known methods and systems have in common the fact that
they are loaded and/or unloaded during the ongoing transport, for
which reason the respective pockets are opened and the conveyed
goods are loaded or unloaded during the ongoing transport movement.
A drawback is that such plain "simultaneous" loading and/or
unloading of the pockets requires an increased process-related and
equipment outlay, which in particular is caused by the required
synchronization of the various movements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the invention to specify a method for
opening transport pockets in a conveyor system based on transport
pockets, and to create a pocket opening device for performing the
method, which avoid the drawbacks of known methods and devices, are
designed and constructed in a more simple manner and are
characterized by a procedure or operation less susceptible to
malfunction.
The method according to the invention for opening a transport
pocket, which is moved in a conveying direction along a running
rail extending in the conveying direction for the conveying of
goods suspended on a carriage, is characterized in that the
carriage with the transport pocket suspended thereon is stopped in
its forward movement at a predetermined point of the running rail
in order to open the transport pocket, and that the transport
pocket of the carriage is opened for loading and/or unloading of
conveyed goods to be transported.
Unlike the known methods, wherein the pocket is opened, loaded or
unloaded and closed again during an undamped continued transport,
the transport pockets to be opened are individually stopped and
opened in the method according to the invention.
The transport pocket of the carriage can be opened for loading
and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be transported only when the
carriage is already in its rest position.
The transport pocket of the carriage can also comprise a swiveling
frame at the upper end, said swiveling frame being swiveled for the
opening or closing of the transport pocket.
According to an embodiment of the method according to the
invention, the arrival of the carriage in its rest position is
detected by means of a carriage detector, and the carriage detector
actuates an opening mechanism when it detects a carriage in the
rest position.
In particular, the transport pocket can comprise a material web
fixed to the swiveling frame with both ends thereby forming a
carrying loop hanging downwards, wherein the two ends of the
carrying loop are arranged one behind the other in the conveying
direction, wherein the swiveling frame on the carriage can be
swiveled about a first swiveling axis orientated transverse to the
conveying direction between a first position, in which the
transport pocket is closed, and a second position, in which the
transport pocket is open, and wherein the swiveling frame on the
carriage is swiveled by an opening mechanism from the first into
the second position and held in the second position for loading
and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be transported.
The transport pocket is delimited to the exterior essentially by
the two vertical sections of the material web, which form two
pocket walls. The transport pocket is open when the two pocket
walls have a sufficient distance from one another to introduce
conveyed goods into the intermediate space or to remove the latter
therefrom. The transport pocket is closed when the pocket walls
have been moved so far towards one another that filling with or
removal of conveyed goods is virtually no longer possible.
In particular, the opening mechanism can comprise a movable element
for opening the transport pocket.
The loading and unloading of the conveyed goods to be transported
can take place transverse to the conveying direction through
lateral openings of the transport pocket. It is however also
conceivable for the loading and unloading of the transport pocket
to be carried out from above.
After the loading and/or unloading, the carriage with the transport
pocket suspended thereon can be released at the predetermined point
of the running rail, and the swiveling frame swivels after the
release about the first swiveling axis from the second position
back into the first position.
In particular, the swiveling-back of the swiveling frame can take
place automatically by means of gravity.
The transport pocket suspended on the carriage can, after release,
move with its swiveling frame located in the second position past
the opening mechanism, wherein the swiveling frame swivels back
from the second position into the first position only after passing
the opening mechanism.
After the release, a movement impulse in the conveying direction
can also be imparted to the carriage with the transport pocket
suspended thereon.
In particular, the movement impulse can be imparted by means of a
stationary, swivelable conveying lever, which briefly engages with
the carriage.
The pocket opening device according to the invention is
characterized by a first device for stopping a carriage, said first
device being arranged in the region of the running rail and at
least one opening mechanism for opening a transport pocket
suspended on a stopped carriage, said opening mechanism being
arranged in the region of the running rail.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first device and
the opening mechanism are connected to one another by control
technology.
Another embodiment is characterized in that the first device and
the opening mechanism are arranged at the side of the running
rail.
In particular, the first device and the opening mechanism can be
arranged on opposite sides of the running rail. It is however also
conceivable for both devices to be arranged on the same side of the
running rail if sufficient space is available for this.
A pair of opening mechanisms of similar type can be arranged on
opposite sides of the running rail in a mirror-symmetrical manner.
Such a paired opening mechanism comes into consideration especially
when the swiveling frame of the transport pocket can only be
swiveled with difficulty for reasons of size, weight or the filling
of the pocket.
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the
first device comprises a mobile stopping element, which in a first
position stops an approaching carriage at the predetermined point
of the running rail and in a second position releases a carriage
stopped there.
In particular, the mobile stopping element can be mounted in a
swiveling manner about a first swiveling axis orientated transverse
to the conveying direction and can be swiveled about the first
swiveling axis between the first position and the second
position.
A conveying lever capable of being swiveled together with the
stopping element about the first swiveling axis can also be
assigned to the mobile stopping element, which conveying lever,
upon release of a stopped carriage by the stopping element,
simultaneously imparts to the carriage a movement impulse in the
conveying direction
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a
carriage detector is arranged inside the first device at the
predetermined point of the running rail, said carriage detector
detecting a stopped carriage, and that the carriage detector is
connected to the opening mechanism by control technology.
Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the
transport pocket comprises a material web fastened to a swiveling
frame at both ends thereby forming a carrying loop hanging
downwards and forming a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the two
ends of the carrying loop are arranged one behind the other in the
conveying direction, that the swiveling frame on the carriage can
be swiveled about a second swiveling axis orientated transverse to
the conveying direction between a first position, in which the
transport pocket is closed, and a second position, in which the
transport pocket is open, and that the opening mechanism comprises
a swiveling lever which can be swiveled about a third swiveling
axis orientated transverse to the conveying direction, which
swiveling lever is arranged at the edge of the movement path of the
swiveling frame of a conveyed transport pocket and is provided at
its free end with a catch, which can be engaged with the swiveling
frame in order to swivel the swiveling frame on the carriage from
the first into the second position and hold the latter in the
second position for the loading and/or unloading of the conveyed
goods to be transported.
In particular, the swiveling lever can be swiveled between a rest
position and an opening position, wherein the catch on the
swiveling lever of the opening mechanism in the rest position is
located in front of the swiveling frame of a stopped transport
pocket, and in the opening position occupies a position between the
front wall and rear wall of the transport pocket.
The swiveling range of the swiveling lever can also extend beneath
the third swiveling axis and can amount for example to 90.degree.
or 180.degree. between the rest position and the opening
position.
Furthermore, it is possible and conceivable to use, instead of a
swiveling lever, another, in particular linear actuator, for
example a linearly movable piston rod, in order to swivel the
swiveling frame. An opening screw can also be used for swiveling
the swiveling frame, said opening screw being advanced from the
side towards the swiveling frame and swiveling it into the opening
position while sliding on the increasingly large radius of the
screw. It is also conceivable to provide an automatically operating
gripper, which grips the swiveling frame outside the swiveling axis
and swivels it into the opening position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is to be explained in greater detail below with the
aid of examples of embodiment in connection with the drawing. In
the figures:
FIG. 1 shows in a perspective side view an embodiment of the pocket
opening device according to the invention, wherein only the
transport pocket and the actual opening mechanism engaging with the
transport pocket are shown;
FIG. 2 shows, in an enlarged detail from FIG. 1, the carriage with
the transport pocket suspended thereon and the opening
mechanism;
FIG. 3A shows, opposite to the conveying direction, the transport
pocket ready to be opened in the region of the opening
mechanism;
FIG. 3B shows, transverse to the conveying direction, the transport
pocket ready to be opened in the region of the opening
mechanism;
FIG. 4A shows the transport pocket directly before the opening;
FIG. 4B shows the transport pocket directly after the opening;
FIG. 5 shows a photographic overall view of the pocket opening
device (without the transport pocket) with the lever mechanism
arranged opposite the opening mechanism and responsible for
stopping the transport pockets and conveying them onward; and
FIG. 6 shows a photographic detail view of the lever mechanism
responsible for stopping the transport pockets and conveying them
onward.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the pocket opening device according to the
invention is reproduced in a perspective side view in FIG. 1,
wherein only the transport pocket and the actual opening mechanism
engaging with the transport pocket are shown.
Pocket opening device 10 of FIG. 1 is mounted on a supporting
structure 20, which is arranged beside actual running rail 11 for
the transport. In the present example, supporting structure 20 is a
rectangular tube; it can however readily be designed otherwise.
Only a short section of running rail 11, which extends in a
conveying direction, is shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen in the
enlarged representation of FIG. 2, running rail 11 is constituted
symmetrical with respect to a vertical central plane and comprises
two opposite, U-shaped lateral channels 11a and 11c as well as a
lower, also U-shaped central channel 11b, in which a carriage 12
with a plurality of wheels runs and is guided. Running channel 11
and carriage 12 can be constituted as is described and explained in
publications WO 2016/030275 A1 and WO 2016/030274 A1.
A laterally projecting, peg-shaped or bolt-shaped engagement
element 13 is fitted above between two running wheels on U-shaped
carriage body 12a of carriage 12, which engagement element will be
dealt with below also in connection with a lever mechanism 16
responsible for stopping carriage 12 and conveying it onward (FIGS.
5 and 6). A carrying element 14 is fixedly attached to the
underside of carriage body 12a, which is constituted as an angle
bracket and at the lower end accommodates and fixes a tubular frame
bearing 14a, which defines a swiveling axis 15c orientated
transverse to conveying direction BR (single arrow in FIG. 1) for a
swiveling frame 15b mounted in a swiveling manner in frame hearing
14a.
Swiveling frame 15b, which in the example of embodiment shown is
constituted as a mechanically stable, essentially rectangular wire
frame, is part of transport pocket 15, which hangs on carriage 12
fixedly and with a constant orientation (swiveling axis 15c
transverse to conveying direction BR) by means of frame bearing 14a
and carrying element 14.
Transport pocket 15 comprises a material web, for example made of a
(reinforced or non-reinforced) fabric, a (laminated or
non-laminated) film or another suitable material, said material web
being fastened with both ends to swiveling frame 15b thereby
forming carrying loop 15a hanging downwards. The two ends of
carrying loop 15a are arranged one behind the other in the
conveying direction, so that the edges of carrying loop 15a are not
connected to one another at the sides except for short deflection
supports 15d mounted in the lower deflection region. Swiveling
frame 15b, which is guided through pockets constituted at the ends
of the material web, can be swiveled about swiveling axis 15c
between a first position, in which transport pocket 15 is closed
(continuous line in FIG. 1; FIG. 4A) and a second position, in
which transport pocket 15 is open (dot-dash line in FIG. 1; FIG.
4B). In the closed position of swiveling frame 15b, transport
pocket 15 is conveyed on running rail 11 in conveying direction BR.
In the open position of swiveling frame 15b, carriage 12 with
transport pocket 15 is stopped and opened transport pocket 15 can
be loaded or unloaded from one or the other side in access
direction ZR (double arrow in FIG. 1).
The shown transport or conveying system with running rail 11 and
pocket opening device 10 arranged at a predetermined point of
running rail 11 usually comprises a multiplicity of carriages 12 of
similar type and associated transport pockets 15. In order to be
able to unequivocally identify carriages 12 and transport pockets
15 suspended thereon and to monitor the latter on their conveying
route, an information carrier 19 can be fixedly attached to
carriage 12, said information carrier 19 containing, in particular,
machine-readable, usually encoded information, which can be read
out optically, magnetically or by radio (e.g. as RFID). In the
shown example of FIG. 1-4, information carrier 19 comprises a
barcode, which can be (optically) scanned and read out in the
region of opening device 10 by a data exchange or reading device 22
arranged there (FIG. 5).
An opening mechanism 17 is provided for opening transport pocket 15
by the swiveling of swiveling frame 15b, said opening mechanism
comprising a swiveling lever 17a which can be swiveled about a
swiveling axis 17b orientated transverse to conveying direction BR,
said swiveling lever being arranged at the edge of the movement
path of swiveling frame 15b of a conveyed transport pocket 15. At
its free end, swiveling lever 17a is provided with a catch 17c
projecting parallel to swiveling axis 17b into the movement path of
swiveling frame 15b, said catch being able to be engaged with
swiveling frame 15b in order to swivel swiveling frame 15b on
carriage 12 from the first into the second position and to hold the
latter in the second position for the loading and/or unloading of
conveyed goods to be transported (see in particular FIG. 4).
Swiveling lever 17a can be swiveled between a rest position (FIG.
4A) and an opening position (FIG. 4B), wherein catch 17c on
swiveling lever 17a of opening mechanism 17 in the rest position is
located in conveying direction BR in front of swiveling frame 15b
of a stopped transport pocket 15 (FIG. 4A), and in the opening
position occupies a position between the front wall and rear wall
of transport pocket 15 (FIG. 4B). The swiveling range of swiveling
lever 17a extends beneath swiveling axis 17b and amounts to
90.degree. or more between the rest position and the opening
position. The swiveling of swiveling lever 17a can be brought about
by a rotary drive 21, which in the present case operates
hydraulically or pneumatically.
Transport pocket 15 is again transferred into the closed position
from the stationary opened position shown in FIG. 4B by being
conveyed onward in conveying direction BR sliding with its
swiveling frame 15b over catch 17c. This can take place passively
by the fact that the retention means stopping carriage 12 (stopping
element 16d in FIG. 6) are released and carriage 12 is set in
motion under the effect of gravity on an inclined rail section.
This can however also take place actively in that, in addition to
and simultaneously with the release of the retention means, a
movement impulse is actively imparted to carriage 12 (conveying
lever 16a in FIGS. 5 and 6). As soon as swiveling frame 15b has
been moved completely in conveying direction BR across catch 17c,
it automatically swivels under the effect of gravity into the
closed position shown in FIG. 4A, so that transport pocket 15 is
then closed again. The sliding of swiveling frame 15b across catch
17c can be facilitated by the fact that an easily rotatable roller
is mounted coaxially on catch 17c, on which roller the swiveling
frame rolls away.
As has already been mentioned, the opening process shown in FIG. 4
takes place after carriage 12 with transport pocket 15 to be opened
has been stopped at a predetermined position in the region of
opening mechanism 17. This predetermined position is selected such
that swiveling lever 17a with catch 17c can precisely occupy the
position shown in FIG. 4A relative to swiveling frame 15b. The
mechanical conditions are particularly favorable when swiveling
axis 15c of the swiveling frame and swiveling axis 17b of the
opening mechanism coincide.
In order that an approaching carriage 12 can occupy said
predetermined (retention) position, a lever mechanism 16 is
arranged on the side of running rail 11 lying opposite opening
mechanism 17 according to FIGS. 5 and 6, said lever mechanism on
the one hand stopping carriage 12 precisely and also releasing it
again, and on the other hand imparting a movement impulse to
carriage 12 subsequently released again, said carriage being set in
motion in conveying direction BR in a targeted manner.
Lever mechanism 16 comprises two levers, i.e. a lever-shaped
stopping element 16d and a conveying lever 16a, said levers being
jointly swivelable about a common swiveling axis 16b. A swiveling
mechanism 16c engages with larger conveying lever 16a, said
swiveling mechanism preferably being operated pneumatically or
hydraulically and bringing about the swiveling process of the two
levers 16a and 16d. FIG. 6 shows stopping element 16d (together
with conveying lever 16a) in the stopping position. In this
position, a carriage 12 coming from the right with its engagement
element 13 travels--without clashing with conveying lever
16a--against stopping element 16d and stops at this point. Stopped
carriage 12 can immediately be detected by carriage detector 18
arranged above running rail 11 and the detection signal can be
relayed to a control (not shown), which then activates opening
mechanism 17 and thus initiates the swiveling open of swiveling
frame 15b by means of the opening mechanism.
When the loading and/or unloading process has been completed with
opened transport pocket 15, the two levers 16a and 16d are rapidly
swiveled upwards in the conveying direction. The effect of this is
that, on the one hand, stopping element 16d releases the path for
stopped carriage 12, and on the other hand conveying lever 16a
swiveling upwards simultaneously engages with its cranked conveying
element 16e formed at the free end with engagement element 13 on
carriage 12 and thus imparts a movement impulse to carriage 12 in
conveying direction BR (on the opposite side, the swiveling frame
swiveled upwards slides in this phase across catch 17c of opening
mechanism 17). Levers 16a and 16d then swivel back again into the
initial position shown in FIG. 6 and are ready to stop a following
carriage.
* * * * *